explorer yacht helicopter

Forget a helicopter. This 328-foot-long explorer superyacht has an air-conditioned garage that can carry a small seaplane, a blimp, and a hot air balloon to for the billionaire owner to explore the remotest corners of the planet in utmost luxury.

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Helipads on Explorer Yachts: Advantages, regulations and impressive examples

A helipad on an Explorer Yacht greatly expands the possibilities for adventure and comfort. Read more about the advantages of helipads on Explorer Yachts, important regulations and some impressive examples.

Advantages of helipads on Explorer Yachts:

Extended range: a helipad makes it possible to quickly and conveniently reach remote locations that would be difficult to access by yacht itself.

Flexibility: A helicopter can be used to transport guests or to supply the yacht with provisions or spare parts.

Safety: In the event of a medical emergency, a helipad allows for quick evacuation or bringing in medical personnel.

Exclusive Experiences: A helicopter allows access to exclusive activities such as heli-skiing, sightseeing tours or remote beaches.

Regulations and requirements:

Size and weight: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) set minimum standards for helipads in terms of size, weight and equipment.

Safety Zones: Helipads must have sufficient safety zones and barriers to minimize the risk of accident or injury.

Communications: Helipads must be equipped with communications and navigation equipment to ensure safe landing and smooth operation of the helicopter.

Certification: Helipads on yachts must be certified by a recognized classification society to ensure compliance with international regulations.

Impressive examples of helipads on Explorer Yachts:

Luna: The 115-meter Explorer Yacht features a large helipad that doubles as a pool when the helicopter is not on board.

Octopus: The 126-meter-long megayacht has two helipads at once, which can be used for transporting guests as well as for deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

Damen SeaXplorer : Damen's SeaXplorer range offers models with helipads that are also suitable for larger helicopters and allow quick conversion of the range for other purposes.

Conclusion:

Helipads on Explorer Yachts are a key factor for increased mobility, flexibility and safety. They enable exclusive experiences and contribute to the ultimate luxury when exploring the world's most remote places.

Air Make Up Units on Explorer Yachts: How they improve air quality

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Archipelago Explorer Yacht ordered with Axe eVTOL

by Adam Landau | Jan 29, 2024 | Press Release

PRESS RELEASE – 29/01/2024

SKYFLY TECHNOLOGIES LTD –  skyfly.aero

Contact information:

Adam Landau – Head of Communications

[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Archilepago Explorer Yacht ordered with Axe eVTOL

• Skyfly’s Axe eVTOL has been ordered by a customer as a companion for their forthcoming 80 foot yacht from Archipelago
• The A80 is an energy-efficient hybrid diesel-electric catamaran from UK-based manufacturer Archipelago Expedition Yachts with a dedicated landing pad on the top deck
• The Axe can be used for private, comfortable and fast ship-to-shore VIP passenger transfers, for taking deliveries and for scenic pleasure flights

eVTOL manufacturer Skyfly and Superyacht Builder Archipelago Expedition Yachts have announced that together with order of the 80 foot aluminium explorer yacht, the customer – who is an accomplished commercial helicopter pilot – ordered an Axe eVTOL for the yacht’s helicopter landing pad on the top deck of the three decked vessel.

The joint announcement was made at boot Düsseldorf, the largest boat show in Europe.

Compared to the RIBs and tenders traditionally used for ship-to-shore transfers, the Axe eVTOL is considerably more comfortable, more private and faster, with its cruise speed of 100 miles per hour. It is also more versatile, being able to fly directly to inland destinations such as hotels, restaurants and airports.

Crucially, It is also quieter, safer, cheaper to operate, easier to fly and much more environmentally-friendly than a helicopter.

“The Axe electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, with its 8 electric motors, makes very little noise and is easy to fly by both owners and superyacht crews, such that no pilot needs to be accommodated aboard. Guests can get to shore without getting wet or being shaken about and can enjoy beautiful views from above. At only 650kg, the Axe can easily operate from a yacht like the A80, and with its £150,000 base price it is much more cost effective than a helicopter. Our customers also tell us that they want to get from the yacht to a plane transfer quickly and comfortably, without losing time in traffic around the coast in the busiest summer months. The Axe is a natural and useful companion for any superyacht, saving lots of time and adding a special experience for guests – it’s the latest must have in the space.” – Jaap Rademaker, CCO, Skyfly

The Axe, with its highly efficient four-wing design and eight electric motors with fixed-angle rotors, uses just 30kW in the cruise – half that of a typical electric car.

Similarly, the hybrid-electric Archipelago A80 is also designed with efficiency at its core; its dual hulls mean that it has lower water displacement than a traditional monohull yacht, requiruiring an estimated 40-50% less power and fuel to cruise at the same speed as a similarly-sized monohull. It is also more stable while at anchor, reducing the need for power-hungry stabilisers such as Seakeepers.

The A80 will also be equipped with a 24kW roof-mounted solar panel array and large battery banks which power all needs on board, including air conditioning. This means that the Axe can be charged on board – often using solar energy with zero carbon emissions.

“The A80 is an incredibly versatile boat, sub-24 meters, so anyone can operate it – it doesn’t need a crew – and it can take a large payload, it can do a top speed of 28-29 knots, and it’s going to have 24kW of solar power on the roof, meaning you can use it in hybrid diesel-electric mode, or full electric, or diesel. It’s a really versatile platform and I think it’s going to be great with the Axe on the roof. I just can’t wait to see the two of them together.” – Dr Stephen Weatherley, CEO, Archipelago Expedition Yachts

The first manned flights of the Axe eVTOL are scheduled for March 2024. Construction of the A80 destined for Skyfly and Archipelago’s common customer will begin in May 2024. The yacht and its eVTOL are expected to star at the Cannes Boat Show in September 2025.

What is the Axe eVTOL?

With a fully-electric range of 100 miles, or 300 miles with an optional hybrid generator, and a cruise speed of 100mph, the Axe by Skyfly is a truly revolutionary two-seat eVTOL aircraft available for USD 180,000. It is designed for personal use and is as easy to fly as a consumer camera drone. Thanks to its small footprint and low noise, the Axe can be kept at home and flown directly to a destination, in complete comfort and with aerial views to enjoy, without traffic jams or bumpy roads.

Its unique four-winged design (patent pending), developed by renowned aeronautical engineer Dr William Brooks, enables the Axe not just to take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but also to fly, take off and land like a conventional airplane. This globally unique ability to also take off and land on a runway means Skyfly’s Axe is the only personal two-seat eVTOL aircraft that you can fly with any existing airplane pilot’s license. By providing lift, the wings also enable a much larger range compared to “rotors only” eVTOLs, an extra layer of safety due to its good glide performance, and a class-leading 30-50kw energy use in cruise, comparable to a Tesla but not requiring an eco-unfriendly road..

The Axe also offers greatly increased safety compared to a helicopter, thanks to its eight-motor distributed propulsion, each with its own power supply and its glide ability arising from its four wings, which enables power-off landing. Additionally, the Axe is fitted with a ballistic parachute – which a helicopter can never have due to the positioning of its rotors.

Skyfly does not aim to develop an air taxi that shuttles commercial passengers into city centres, nor is it venturing down the onerous commercial certification route, which leads to high development costs. Instead, Skyfly follows existing certification routes for private kit-built aircraft, which greatly reduces costs for the owner and enables the Axe to be sold at a base price of 180,000 USD. 

Unlike commercial air taxis, which require as-yet-unbuilt “vertiport” infrastructure, the Axe eVTOL can take off and land in a garden or any agricultural land where the landowner has given permission, without needing modifications or expensive infrastructure. This use is legal and well established, with many light aircraft owners operating in this way worldwide from private “farm strips”.

The Axe is not just an idea or concept, but a fully designed aircraft. Extensive analysis and prototype testing has been carried out and manufacturing is being readied for series production. Our two teams of aircraft engineers have developed the Axe as a versatile personal aircraft with strict focus on low weight and aerodynamic efficiency and performance. Aside from generating lift from its wings, the Axe also differs from other eVTOL designs in that it uses existing technology from proven and certified suppliers to provide key components, including the propulsion system, battery system and flight control system. Furthermore, unlike other winged eVTOLs, it has no rotating motor or wing elements, but instead has fixed angle rotors, saving on weight, cost, complexity and maintenance. For more information about how the Axe stands out from other eVTOLs, watch our full explainer video .

Skyfly’s Chief engineer, Dr William Brooks, has designed the Axe with efficiency at its core, with the four wings giving it the highest energy efficiency in comparison to other two-seat eVTOL aircraft. Compared to many other eVTOL designs, which have no or inadequate wings, the Axe’s wings generate useful lift in forward flight, improving efficiency, range and safety, while also giving it the ability to make conventional wing-borne take-offs and landings if required, saving yet more energy.

Skyfly sees the Axe as a direct competitor to currently-available two seat airplanes or helicopters – one that is much easier to fly, safer, quieter and more affordable to buy, operate and maintain. In addition, whichever bigger airtaxi eVTOL wins the race – these will require pilots, and the two seat, side by side Axe eVTOL is the ideal training vehicle – as the only eVTOL worldwide able to train pilots in fixed wing takeoffs and landings, and emergency glide landings, as well as vertical takeoffs and landings.

Following two years of development, CFD and CAD designing, followed by prototype flight testing, the Axe was officially launched in the summer of 2022. In the months since then, the Axe eVTOL by Skyfly has secured dozens of orders and has attracted the attention of air mobility specialist investors. Their backing allows Skyfly to push forward with its development schedule. The strong and lightweight composite fuselage tooling for series production has meanwhile been manufactured and delivered, and with that, Skyfly is now building its first aircraft, with manned test flights due to begin in Q1 2024. Customer deliveries will follow at the end of 2024, when UK certification is expected.

To find out more about the Axe visit www.skyfly.aero  

To watch a video of our prototype flying, visit our YouTube channel .

The Axe EVTOL by Skyfly

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A 384-foot Explorer Superyacht?

• By Patrick Sciacca
• Updated: October 29, 2018

Alexis is a 384-foot, nine-deck Explorer Yacht Concept from Steve Kozloff, founder and designer of the Goliath Series of polar-class expedition yachts.

If an owner is traveling to northern latitudes, the designer says the full-displacement yacht will have an ice-class steel hull, aluminum superstructure as well heated handrails and doors to mitigate ice buildup.

Standard engines will be four 16-cylinder, Cummins QSK60-M diesel-electric powerplants for 8,000 total hp. For perspective, each engine weighs about 19,300 pounds. That’s big iron. The motors will be matched to four azipods.

Alexis is expected to cruise at 10 knots with a 14.2-knot top-end. The designer says the yacht will have globe-girdling range: 22,000 nautical miles at 10 knots. It’s a trip that requires some serious fuel and Alexis will reportedly hold 432,000 gallons or 1,728 tons of diesel.

For the owner that likes to fly, the yacht is designed with 3,000 square feet of hangar space, which the designer says should accommodate four small helicopters or three medium helicopters. Her garage can reportedly accommodate, not one, but two submarines, several tenders and other assorted water toys.

The superyacht’s design includes a master suite aft with a private pool. The pool will have a retractable cover. A second pool for guests, located on the foredeck, will also have a retractable cover.

The builder says the explorer-style superyacht will have three master suites, plus seven twin guest staterooms with accommodations for 20 guests for extended voyaging.

Stay tuned for more on this yacht’s development.

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Discover the amazing potential of an explorer yacht charter

By Editorial Team |   Last Updated 25 October 2022

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Imagine witnessing a whale breaching across the bow? Or, heli-skiing down your own private mountainside? Perhaps you are keen to get involved with marine conservation? Explorer yachts allow you to enjoy a whole range of fascinating experiences, opening up the possibilities for once-in-a-lifetime adventures where the world really is your oyster. 

In this article:

What is an explorer yacht?

Seaworthiness, international polar code, long distance cruising, independence, what are the benefits of an explorer yacht, freedom to explore, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, superyacht luxury, need more information.

In recent years, the charter scene has witnessed an increase in demand for go-anywhere explorer yachts, with naval architects pushing the envelope with a raft of innovative concepts in response to discerning yacht travellers seeking ever-more thrilling adventures. 

Thomas O'Nial, sales manager at Campers & Nicholsons, confirms he's seen a marked increase in requests for explorer yachts in both the sales and charter sectors over the last few years, with the pandemic acting to accelerate this demand: "Clients are tired of the usual yacht charter circuit, and are expressing a desire to explore new territories and discover new things."

Damen's SeaXplorer Design Manager Enrique Tintore agrees, adding "SeaXplorer clients come from all manner of backgrounds and nationalities, but all share a passion for pushing the envelope and a love for fun and adventure. From tropical diving to heliskiing, they want the highest level of capability for fun."

Expedition yachts not only boast impressive cruising ranges and autonomy, but also come equipped with the latest toys, gadgets and state-of-the-art technology, offering a synergy of impeccably-styled interiors and luxury amenities – proving you can have your cake and eat it too.

However, there are some important distinctions between a superyacht and a true explorer yacht; 

First and foremost, while aesthetically rugged and robust, an explorer yacht must be seaworthy. This means safe enough to withstand the roughest sea conditions, and do so comfortably for its passengers onboard. 

A number of yachts also comply with IMO’s Polar Code, with hulls built to ice-class, such as Damen's SeaXplorer  yacht LA DATCHA (pictured), designed to venture to extreme polar regions.

Although not mandatory, it certainly opens up greater opportunities for extreme exploration.

All our clients share a passion for pushing the envelope and a love for fun and adventure

Explorer yachts should also have the fuel tank capacity and efficiency to cruise for longer distances, offering unlimited potential to access remote areas of the globe.

And they don’t need to be behemoths either, British shipbuilder Arksen’s flagship explorer model is a fairly diminutive 26m (85ft) with an impressive 7,000 nm oceangoing range.

Likewise, Italian shipyard Cantiere Delle Marche's latest explorer yachts, AURELIA and RJ are both under 500GT, yet still bear all the hallmarks of a true explorer: robust, seaworthy and designed for world cruising, with both offering a 5,500 nm range without compromising on comfort and luxury, illustrating just how diverse the growing market for explorer vessels can be.

Another important attribute of a true explorer yacht is autonomy, basically the ability to remain at sea for long periods while remaining totally self-sufficient.

To achieve this, as well as ample fuel capacity, the yacht needs sufficient storage space to carry adequate food supplies and other necessities to maintain crew and guests, including specialists such as local guides, helicopter pilots and ski instructors.

The vessel should also be able to generate fresh water and manage waste effectively. This last point is often something that gets overlooked, however is one of the most fundamentally important aspects of an expedition yacht charter, not only because the vessel will undoubtedly be exploring remote locations without convenient refuse services, but also because effective waste management is a crucial environmental issue for ocean going yachts given their autonomy at sea and global range.

With a clearer understanding of what makes an explorer yacht, the next question you might ask is: why should you charter one?

Below are some pretty compelling reasons why explorer yachts are a cut above the rest;

The best thing about an expedition yacht is the freedom to explore the world’s oceans, from the poles to the tropics, with the capacity and range to remain at sea for longer periods of time between stops.

Clients are tired of the usual yacht charter circuit, and are expressing a desire to explore new territories and discover new things

Space is another great feature common on ocean going yachts. From storage to outdoor living, everything about an explorer yacht is supersized, designed for your ultimate comfort and safety whilst at sea. 

Tintore explains the major reason for such large volume on explorer yachts like SeaXplorer La Datcha "is so that we can combine the capability you need to explore the world with the luxury space you want when you are there. Our SeaXplorers offers the best of both without compromise."

Having plenty of onboard space also means there’s more room for toys for use on land and at sea. O'Nial confirms one of the major bonuses in having plenty of space is that "there's much more room for jumbo toys, such as landing craft, especially for remote destinations without any convenient harbours or pontoons, as well as all-terrain vehicles, seaplanes and helicopters."

Some of the larger explorer yachts also come equipped with their own mini medical hospitals complete with trained staff, as well as research laboratories, ski lockers, hyperbaric dive chambers and much more. 

Explorer yachts by their very nature offer the kind of unique experiences that many standard yachts cannot, such as the opportunity to partake in scientific research, explore remote destinations and offer greater opportunities for adrenaline-fuelled adventures as part of the whole package; such as 4x4 off-road touring, heli-skiing and submarine exploration à la Jules Verne. 

Tintore underpins this point: “Explorer yachting offers the opportunity to experience the world with genuine adventure and rare experiences that are truly priceless."

there's much more room for jumbo toys

And there’s no need to compromise on luxury as most explorer yachts nowadays also offer an array of luxurious extras, such as wellness facilities, swimming pools, entertainment systems and movie theatres. 

With unlimited cruising potential coupled with superyacht standard luxury, it's clear to see why explorer yachts have become so popular. 

For some of the coolest places on the planet to visit by explorer yacht, read our article:  Best explorer yacht destinations for off-the-beaten-track adventures.

If you are interested in chartering an explorer yacht, or simply want some more information, please reach out to your preferred yacht charter broker who will be able to help you further.

For some more inspiration, please read our yacht charter destination guides , which offer lots of helpful tips and advice covering a wide range of destinations, as well as a sample of expert hand-picked itineraries.

You can also view the entire fleet of expedition yachts available for charter .

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FEATURED EXPLORER YACHTS AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER

126m Lurssen 2003 / 2021

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75m Abeking & Rasmussen 2016

73m Admiral Yachts 2018

68m Royal Niestern Sander 2012 / 2020

63m Halter Marine 1978 / 2022

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This Epic New 345-Foot Expedition Yacht Has an 8,000-Mile Range

The transoceanic explorer seaxplorer 105 has a luxurious interior and carries two helicopters, five tenders and a sub., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories.

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Damen Yachting’s SeaXplorer 105 is a combination of comfort, size and serious expedition features designed into a polar-class hull. The Amels division used client feedback to create this new 345-foot concept, partnering with Azure Yacht Design and EYOS Expeditions for the fine details. This latest of the SeaXplorer line—which include 90-, 95- and 100-meter sisterships—has more than 62,000 square feet of volume across eight decks.

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Size matters on this new Damen: It has two owner’s suites and accommodations for 24 guests, storage garages for two twin-engine helicopters, space for five tenders and an 8,000-mile range to cross the Pacific without having to refuel. The new design also has garage space for a submarine.

The focus of the 105’s exterior is on maximizing time in the outdoors, with a water sports center and scuba deck, along with a special embarkment point at water level for immediate access to the ocean.

The forward bow lounge is one of many design features that add comfort to the rugged explorer design.  Courtesy Damen Yachting

The 3,229-square-foot helideck also serves double duty for large social gatherings in port, or it even works as a tennis court or half-basketball court, for pick-up games at the end of the world. Belowdecks, a weathertight double hangar with hydraulic lift system keeps both aircraft protected from the elements.

The designers focused on multi-tasking areas like the helideck and transom. The rear of the yacht is not only a huge swim platform, but also has an open bar area with upstairs lounge.

On the inside, the 105 is all about comfort. In keeping with its sisterships, the designers included a forward Observation Lounge with an outside bow deck, but supersized it to 1,324 square feet, so groups could gather to enjoy exceptional views in the evening after a day of diving or heli-skiing. The open layout, surrounded by windows on all sides, has a bar and multimedia center. The 3,000-plus square foot indoor spa is also full-featured, with a gym with foldout terrace, whirlpool, steam room, massage area, hairdresser and beauty salon. Its 26-foot-long indoor pool is heated.

The 345-foot expedition yacht has space for two helicopters, which are required for skiing Antarctica.  Damen Yachting

The hybrid diesel-electric propulsion pods are designed to minimize emissions.

The 105 is also IMO Polar Code category B compliant for environmental protection. The hull is Polar Class 7, with the stern designed for breaking ice in fast-changing conditions. The yacht also has retractable stabilizer fins for when “growlers” are lurking beneath the surface. These truck-sized fragments of ice are hazardous to yachts with fixed fins, so the 105’s retractable fins let the boat cruise in relative safety.

“The SeaXplorer 105 is a fully developed design,” says Enrique Tintore, SeaXplorer design manager. “However, the scope for client customization is massive–that’s a key part of our proposition throughout the design process.”

The stern offers direct access to the water, while the internal beach club includes a bar and lounge area.  Courtesy Damen Yachting

Damen Yachting plans to build the yacht under PYC rules, so it can be chartered.

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Bold: On board SilverYachts' 85m military-styled explorer

The grey sky matches the muddied Mediterranean, barely visible through the frenzied wipers that work to keep my windscreen clear. It’s not exactly what I had in mind when I agreed to see SilverYachts ’ 85.3-metre Bold  in the South of France. Then again, this may be the perfect weather to see this new explorer.

The creation from a Western Australia-based shipyard that announced itself with some fanfare in 2007 with its first boat, an unconventional 73.3-metre yacht named Silver (now Rabdan ), Bold is designed by the same owner/designer team: a European industrialist with a predilection for modern design and an award-winning yacht designer and naval architect who needs no introduction.

Bold is Espen Øino’s 50th yacht, and the fifth that this owner-and-designer duo has created under the SilverYachts banner. The first four were elegant, modern boats that, while not to every taste – and certainly not every budget – helped move the needle with their long, narrow hulls topped with streamlined superstructures. Back then, SilverYachts was one of the few yards to embrace the idea of efficiency and sustainability through smart naval architecture. To this end, while larger and more voluminous than her predecessors, Bold still has a relatively narrow beam of 11 metres.

The Silver Loft concept, which became Bold , emerged in 2012 at a time when pirates were active in many parts of the world, which may have inspired the slightly military styling, but that wasn’t the primary driver. “It was to be a real world cruiser that could operate in a somewhat economical way, could carry a helicopter and have large outside living areas and very comfortable [indoor] living areas with connections with the outside,” Øino says. He further describes it as “contemporary, purposeful and sustainable – because it is built of aluminium, which is an easier material to recycle and an easily driven hull, which means you don’t need so much power to achieve speed. And down to earth, like a Range Rover”.

Øino also had a hand in the design of the Rupert RIB cabin tender that comes to collect me from the dock. Brave , as it is known, cuts easily through rollers as we speed towards a mysterious grey figure just discernible through fat drops of rain. Soon that smudge in the distance firms into a sturdy-looking boat that perfectly justifies her name. The warm lights that shine invitingly through large windows belie the military stance of the tall vertical bow, the arrow-shaped superstructure at the front and flat, grey paint.

This tender – or one like it – was one of the reasons SilverYachts built this higher tonnage boat. At 1,551GT, it’s hardly the highest-tonnage 85-metre yacht out there ( Solandge , of identical length, for instance, is closer to 2,900GT), but it is much roomier than 77-metre Silver Fast , which is a mere 952GT.

“As you know,” says Bold's owner, “I built the Silver line of sleek, elegant, fast, lightweight yachts with quite a narrow beam and limited volume. For me and my family, it was always sufficient, but the deck space for tenders was very limited.” He has spent time aboard every one of the yachts that the Australian shipyard has built.

This “sports activity vessel” (SAV), partially derived from the concept of a shadow vessel, has the capability of carrying several auxiliary craft. “You can land a helicopter, carry a 15-metre tender and lift up to 12 tonnes; we have no height limitations on this open deck,” says the owner. Even with an AW109S Grand helicopter on deck and a Rupert R6 RIB strapped to its cradle, the deck looks massive – it’s 400 square metres of open space. However, unlike a shadow vessel, Bold serves multiple purposes.

The yacht left Australia in July 2019. From Perth, it headed for Sardinia, where the owners held a dinner party for 140 after an uneventful 21-day crossing. “She proved herself, four days out of the shipyard,” says Captain Todd Leech, who took the boat across and encountered six-metre waves between the Maldives and the Gulf of Aden. The SOLAS-compliant explorer is equipped with the latest in navigation aids and cameras, including what Leech calls “the dolphin cam”, a forward-facing underwater camera.

Bold  was designed to have a range of nearly 5,000 nautical miles. Based on the first few months of cruising, including ploughing through those big Indian Ocean waves, the owner estimates she burns between 500 and 600 litres an hour at 16.5 knots. “The sweet spot is around 14 to 15 knots.” But when necessary, top speed is more than 22 knots, with commercially rated MTU 16V 4000 M73L engines.

The naval architecture, hull form and construction have a lot to do with this performance. “ Bold features an evolution of SilverYachts’ high-performance, low-weight hulls, with low draught and a highly optimised hull form that provides her owner with remarkably low fuel consumption, fast repositioning and access to shallow cruising grounds unparalleled in yachts of her size,” says Jona Kan, SilverYachts’ former commercial director.

“Basically, it’s a high-speed displacement hull form,” Øino says. “The length-to-beam ratio is important and a high ratio is what we are using here. The angle of entry and the shape of the bow are extremely important for the wave you generate, as well as the stern geometry of the hull. You extend your waterline to create a clear wake. That has been the concept at SilverYachts.”

It turns out this capable explorer is also a great platform for fun. The main aft deck alone is roughly 34 metres long, from the stairs that lead to a bathing platform, to a movie screen tucked inside a party space that doubles as a heli garage. The aft sections of the bulwarks unfold to provide clearance for the helicopter landing and create terraces over the water.

The owner’s son shows me some of the fun features on board as we take refuge from the rain in the hangar/cinema/disco. While a video of a spacecraft plays on a screen, a familiar refrain soon pours out of the Renkus-Heinz speakers: The Weather Girls’ unforgettable Gospel-inspired disco anthem It’s Raining Men . Accompanying the high-wattage sound is a light show that enlivens the deck with vivid colours. This has proven to be a favourite deck for late-night parties, and it’s easy to see why, even on a rainy day. “You are very close to the water and without a barrier; everyone wants to jump in in the morning,” he says.

Additional party spaces are higher up. On the very top, sunpads complement a 2,700-litre spa pool , which allows cooling off away from prying eyes. There is also a firepit and the equipment to set up another movie screen. One deck below, on the aft section of the bridge deck, removable railings allow parking for a second helicopter. Awnings and judiciously placed windbreakers expand the protection that a small overhang offers, while a bar, serving stations, two rotisseries and an induction hob make it another great banqueting space. Loose furniture by Paola Lenti can be scattered around.

The pièce de résistance, however, is aft of the owner’s deck – a winter garden with floor-to-ceiling tinted windows on three sides. These can be opened fully by hand, stacking neatly into two storage spaces hidden behind bulkheads on both sides of the superstructure. When they are opened, this entire section of the owner’s deck is like a large terrace open to the breeze and overlooking the certified helideck. On an overcast and rainy day, when the windows are tightly shut, the space is still bathed in natural light, maintaining a connection to the environment.

This winter garden was an essential component of the concept for a world cruiser that can be enjoyed anywhere in the world and at just about any time of the year. It is connected physically and visually to the saloon (although it can be shut off with weathertight doors). Its decor is consistent with the adjacent lounge/ dining/saloon area.

The owner worked with Øino on the pleasantly unconventional layout, which forgoes the habitual main deck saloon/dining combination in favour of what is a superb loft with a high ceiling (up to 2.75 metres in the centre). Brightly coloured sofas frame the perimeter of a custom carpet with bold geometric print under a backlit ceiling. All around the deck are cosy groupings of furniture pieces scattered atop a residential-looking parquet floor made of 2.5-millimetre-thick oak on honeycomb.

“I always said if you want to spend a couple of weeks on a boat, you want it to be like a Tribeca, New York, apartment or a house. That was part of the brief, to have a close contact with the water, wherever you are, but not to get the feel of a superyacht. If you look around it, it’s an apartment,” says the owner, who was also inspired by one of Øino’s earlier designs, the distinctive 71-metre Skat , built with a similar loft.

Aside from ubiquitous views through the tall windows, the focal point in the understated interior is a large screen (or rather nine screens that can be synchronised to show one gigantic image) for streaming videos or looking at navigation information and charts.

Although the owner’s suite is on this deck, it is perfectly private behind an elegantly concealed entrance. Like the rest of the yacht, the ambience in the owner’s cabin is that of restrained luxury, with light-coloured silk carpeting, light bulkheads of brushed open-grain oak and stainless-steel insets illuminated by downlights. Automated Venetian-style leather blinds quietly descend over windows. It is a sanctuary. The builder has used all known tricks in the book to prevent noise transfer through the all-aluminium boat, including dampening materials on floors and bulkheads, floating floors and soft mounts in machinery spaces.

“Like my houses, it is modern but cosy,” says the owner, who has an aversion to overdone luxury. “There is no onyx, no gold,” he says, adding later: “We don’t need to impress with golden staircases.” The stairs leading to the main deck are finished with honeycomb-backed marble and attractive light accents.

On the main deck are seven elegant guest cabins, all with en suites, plus a massage room that can serve as a hospital if need be. In the guest areas, the bulkheads and furniture are mostly in teak. Sizeable windows in the guest cabins frame the landscape in geometric shapes, visible on the outside; while in the forward VIP cabins, traditional marine portholes are attractively framed in stainless steel. The bathrooms in Corian and honeycomb marble are spacious.

The lower deck is dedicated to the crew of 22: their cabins, a crew mess and stewardess office. The space is finished with easy-to-maintain and attractive laminates. Here is a logically laid out commercial-grade galley with dumb waiter, laundry space with all pro Miele equipment, spacious engine room, a lazarette/beach club finished to guest standards and large provisions stores, fridges and freezers. An industrial-looking forward crane can lift palettes of food and lower them through a large hatch, as well as jet skis and Laser dinghies.

“We increased our storage dramatically,” the owner says. “We have enough storage probably for five months.” One of the trade-offs for this extra capacity was a smaller beach club , but with all the space above, it is not particularly missed. It has the essentials, including a dayhead and a convertible fish filleting station. And a floating platform helps expand the fun, providing temporary dockage for the toys and serving as a take-off spot for watersports. As we reach the end of the tour, the owner says: “I am happy to have the courage to have made it a bit different.”

As the tender speeds away, I look back with a newly acquired fondness for this unconventional yacht. It’s form and function in perfect agreement, rain or shine.

This feature is taken from the April 2020 issue of BOAT International. Get the magazine sent straight to your door using the link below.

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